The protests taking place across the country were expected to be the biggest in three years, putting extra pressure on President Maduro to negotiate with the opposition and find a way of easing the country’s economic crisis.

Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionThere were clashes between protesters and riot policeImage copyrightREUTERSImage captionSupporters of Mr Maduro held a rallyImage copyrightREUTERSImage captionLooting was also reported in Caracas

Anti-government protesters have described it as Venezuela’s “second independence day”.

Elections are not due until late 2018, but the opposition says the country is on the verge of collapse. Inflation is expected to top 700% this year, the IMF says.

The latest crisis was triggered by last month’s Supreme Court decision to officially take over power from the opposition-controlled parliament.